Dons flex muscle, Begusarai takes a beating

Arun Kumar / TNN / Aug 4, 2008, 02:50 IST

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Begusarai was once the most politically-aware. That’s why, politicians with criminal links like Pappu Yadav, Mohammad Shahabuddin etc could not gain a foothold here

Dons flex muscle, Begusarai takes a beating

The district of Begusarai, which nestled Barauni industrial town, was once the most politically-aware district of undivided Bihar. That was why until few years ago, politicians with criminal antecedents like Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, Mohammad Shahabuddin, Surendra Prasad Yadav, Munna Shukla and Rajan Tiwary, could not flex their muscle in the district.
Despite the district "boasting" its own don in the late Kamdeo Singh in 70s, criminalisation of politics made a rather late entry in the district compared to other parts of the state.
Old-timers here say politics was considered a serious business. People's perception of politics began to change when leaders of all political parties turned the "serious" business of politics �� of fighting against various forms of injustice and for development of the district �� into a "frivolous" one.
The ascendancy of local strongman Ratan Singh to the throne of zila parishad chairman in 2001 was a landmark. It virtually opened the floodgates of politics to people of his ilk, some of whom succeeded in getting themselves saddled in panchayat raj bodies.

All this ultimately culminated in the LJP fielding Mokama don Suraj Bhan Singh as its nominee from Balia Parliamentary seat. He established his supremacy by defeating leaders like Shatrughna Prasad Singh of the CPI and Ramjivan Singh of the JD (U) in 2004 Lok Sabha elections. Apathy of common masses with politics led to defeat of both these leaders sans a criminal past.
Suraj Bhan's victory only helped raise political aspirations of many others who had earned their fortunes through government contracts. It soon became an established fact that the money, muscle and gun (MMG) factor played a pivotal role in fulfilling the political aspirations of many such figures. Political parties only made their task easier by wooing them to their fold.

To cite a few examples, while RJD has its own Bhama Shah in Ratan Singh, the BJP has Ram Lakhan Singh. Local strongman turned social worker Narendra Kumar Singh alias Bogo Singh won as independent candidate, defeating CPI nominee Rajendra Rajan in Matihani constituency in Begusarai, once considered a CPI bastion, in 2005 Assembly polls.
Now with controversial sitting LJP MP from Balia, Suraj Bhan Singh convicted in a murder case this June, a space has been created for those wanting to pursue politics of development. If the people fail to grab the opportunity, they will have only themselves to blame.

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